Scientists for creating first ever list of all universal species BigstockThe principles for creating an authoritative list of the world’s species, published in the open access journal PLOS Biology, include a defined role for taxonomists alongside other stakeholders such as conservationists and governmentsA new effort is underway to create an overarching list of all the world’s plant and animal species, the Independent reports. A comprehensive catalogue of every species will help conservationists, scientists, governments and other organizations understand and protect the biodiversity on Earth. But in several cases, the lines between species are blurred, causing disagreement between taxonomists – the scientists who discover, name and classify species. The species lists would be based on science, separate the governance of naming species from the governance of validating species and be fully traceable, according to the proposals. Although projects like the Catalogue of Life are already working on creating a comprehensive global index of species, it has not been universally adopted by taxonomists, governments or conservation organisations.

Source: Dhaka Tribune July 08, 2020 13:18 UTC